Spindrift Racing team, New partners announced for Spindrift team and confirmation that maxi trimaran Spindrift 2 will be raced solo by Yann Guichard in the 2014 Route du Rhum

From the following press release from the Spindrift Racing website:

http://www.spindrift-racing.com/2014/01/spindrift-racing-an-ambitious-new-year/

Spindrift racing : an ambitious new year!

Mirabaud and Zenith join the team as Gold Partner and Official Timekeeper respectively
Spindrift 2 on the North Atlantic and 24-hours record
Yann Guichard to start the Route du Rhum on Spindrift 2

Through Spindrift racing, Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard share their passion for sailing, a sport of many facets, where performance relies primarily on a motivated and efficient team ready to advance together and take on new challenges. The entrepreneurial spirit of the team is reflected today in the first two partners in the Spindrift adventure. The bank Mirabaud (Gold Partner) and the watchmaker Zenith (Official Timekeeper) have committed for three years with, from 2014, to sharing significant challenges on Lake Geneva and all around the Atlantic.

Being bold while remaining pragmatic and organised is the approach adopted by the team from its inception in 2011 and it has been rewarded. Whether sailing the Decision 35 Ladycat, the MOD70 trimaran, or the maxi-trimaran Spindrift 2, the results speak for themselves. On board this year, 2013 was notable for the record-breaking feat of the Discovery Route crew (Cadiz, Spain-San Salvador, Bahamas) lowering the time by more than 20 hours after crossing in 6 days, 14 hours, with an average speed of 24.5 knots.

“Spindrift racing is a young team that brings together a group of professionals whose work has quickly borne fruit,” says Dona Bertarelli, owner and skipper of Spindrift racing. “Our project has grown and already has a good international reputation. With Yann, we have the cards in hand to take the next steps.”

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Spindrift Racing, Maxi Spindrift 2 Yann Guichard, Dona Bertarelli and crew get to know the beast

From the following press release on the Spindrift Racing website:

http://www.spindrift-racing.com/2013/08/spindrift-2-and-crew-go-into-the-deep-end/

After a first outing on Spindrift 2 that was essentially technical a few days ago in Lorient, the whole crew are heading back to sea tomorrow for some sport specific training.

The sailing program is two sessions onshore and two sessions offshore. The aim is for Dona Bertarelli, Yann Guichard and the crew to test the boat in various conditions, but mainly to tackle a major issue in offshore racing for the crew: life on board. The organisation of watches, getting used to living together at sea and real-life tests that are essential to get the 14 crew members ready for the Rolex Fastnet which starts on August 11.

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Maxi Spindrift2, photo courtesy John Cadwallader

Spindrift Racing, publish record programme and vision for the Maxi Trimaran Spindrift 2

Spindrift Racing have released a press release on the programme they are planning to undertake with Spindrift 2. The most intriguing part in my view is they are looking at whether the boat can be modified to be singlehanded to compete in the 2014 Route du Rhum. That would be quite an achievement but maybe if they went for a smaller rig as Cammas did on Groupama3 it might be possible.

http://www.spindrift-racing.com/2013/07/spindrift-2-unveiled/

•    The largest racing trimaran in the world shows new colours
•    A program of records from 2013
•    Thoughts on technological developments

Outlining the plans of the Spindrift racing team, Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard unveiled the new colours, design and program of the maxi trimaran, Spindrift 2, on Tuesday, March 2 at Lorient. The former Banque Populaire V, the boat is the largest racing trimaran in the world and holder of nine world records, including the Jules Verne trophy. Spindrift 2 will start a summer racing program of records and training to allow Bertarelli and Guichard intimate knowledge and control, with a view to their ambitions to rewrite the greatest records in sailing.

Learning to master Spindrift 2

 Bertarelli and Guichard, owners of three Spindrift racing multihulls; the D35 catamaran Ladycat, the MOD70 Spindrift and the maxi trimaran Spindrift 2, are going to juggle the coming seasons in the pursuit of excellence on board these three exciting boats. The last to be added to the stable, the maxi trimaran, Spindrift 2, will debut in the summer of 2013 and mobilise all the energy of the team. The challenge is for both skippers and the racing team and shore crew to learn how to harness the power of the biggest racing trimaran in the world. The boat has a new coat of black, white and gold, styled like its stable mates. All the Spindrift racing team has spent time during Route des Princes working on optimising a boat that was tried and tested, but Bertarelli and Guichard want to apply the latest technology to improve performance wherever possible. A new rig is well on the way, with a lighter mast suitable for the envisaged record campaign. Hunting for areas where weight can be lost is an open book, but not at any cost. «We will reduce the sail area and are seeking the perfect balance between weight and power in order to make performance gains,» Guichard said.

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Spindrift 2, photo Chris Schmid

Spindrift Racing, release their 2013 program

From the following article on the Spindrift Racing website

 

http://www.spindrift-racing.com/2013/04/the-power-of-three/

 

After re-fitting the maxi-trimaran Spindrift 2 (formerly the record-breaking Banque Populaire V), the Spindrift racing team is gaining momentum. The 2013 program, designed and based around Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard, will marry regattas, ocean races and ocean records for the next four seasons.

 

The Fastnet Race in August for Spindrift 2

Spindrift 2 is currently at the CDK boatyard in Lorient for a complete check-up and will be launched in its new livery in early July. The first training session is scheduled so that Spindrift 2 does not break stride before the start of the Fastnet Race from Cowes on August 11. He holds the record for the 600-mile race in the English Channel and the Irish Sea, winning in 1 day 8 hours and 48 minutes at an average speed of 18.1 knots (approved WSSRC record) in August 2011. “This year will be dedicated to discovering the boat and familiarising ourselves with the size of the machine so we can determine what technical developments it is possible to make for next season.” Yann Guichard said.

After the first outing in the Fastnet, Spindrift racing will dedicate 2014 to the formation of a team of a dozen people to set records: An Atlantic crossing, the Route Discovery, a Mediterranean crossing, Jules Verne …

 

“This joint project with Yann is about drawing together human and sporting adventures that fit our criteria: creating a new challenge and team, performing and not resting on our laurels,” Dona Bertarelli said. “Although it is a logical next step for Yann in his career, for me it is a 90 ° turn and a big challenge to get involved in this ocean racing format that I do not know. It is my desire to progress further and discover the deep.”

 

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Spindrift Racing acquire Maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V for new records program

From the following press release by Spindrift Racing

http://www.spindrift-racing.com/2013/01/dona-bertarelli-acquires-maxi-banque-populaire-v-legendary-trimaran-and-winner-of-the-trophee-jules-verne/

Ocean-faring maxi trimaran known as Maxi Banque Populaire V has been acquired by Dona Bertarelli and is now gearing up to a new campaign, set to break records and create exceptional events. The trimaran will begin its new career within Dona Bertarelli’s and Yann Guichard‘s racing stable, Spindrift racing, at the Rolex Fastnet Race 2013, on August 11 this year.

Dona Bertarelli has shown her mettle on Lake Léman with her Ladycat catamaran by finishing last year’s season on the podium of the Vulcain Trophy 2012. She is also the only woman skipper to have won the Bol d’Or Mirabaud in 74 editions of the famous race. Dona is now setting herself the goal of breaking records on the biggest racing trimaran in the world.

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